We spoke with an investigator in the coroner's office .. who told us they got a call to respond to the scene ... though the details surrounding the situation are still unclear.

Cops are currently at a residence where 43-year-old Junior is believed to be staying.

People in law enforcement are telling us Junior Seau is dead ... but we are unable to confirm that right now.

Attempts to reach Seau and Seau's people have been unsuccessful.

Seau was involved in a car accident back in 2010 when he drove his SUV off a cliff in Carlsbad, CA hours after he was arrested for allegedly attacking his girlfriend. Seau later said he was not trying to kill himself ... insisting he had fallen asleep at the wheel.

Seau is the eighth member of the Chargers 1994 Super Bowl team to die, crazy stuff. An article said "If Seau committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest, it is similar to the way former Chicago Bears great Dave Duerson ended his life. Duerson shot himself in the chest on February 17 -- the method used so that his brain could be examined for symptoms of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a trauma-induced disease common to NFL players and others who have received repeated blows to the head."

I read about this as well. It reminds me of a quote from Shawshank Redemption. Once the old man was released from prison, he couldn't handle the outside world and hung himself. He'd been "institutionalized".

2016 Bold Predictions
1 - the Titans win AFC SOUTH
2 - Eli Manning will be the #1 overall QB
3 - Mississippi state Bulldogs will not be last place SEC West

'The North County Times reports that former Chargers and Patriots LB Junior Seau passed away Wednesday after a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest.
Seau's body was discovered by a housekeeper at his California home Wednesday. Seau was a 12-time Pro Bowler and is eligible for Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2015 after ending his playing career in 2009. He was voted first-team All-Pro six times. Seau should still be a shoo-in for the first ballot in Canton.'

This is really sad. Hopefully current players in all sports realize the long term impact repeated violent hits can have and start showing some respect for each other.

Seau is the second retired N.F.L player to commit suicide in the past few weeks. Ray Easterling, a safety for the Atlanta Falcons in the 1970s and a plaintiff in a high-profile lawsuit against the N.F.L. over its handling of concussion-related injuries, died last month of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The circumstances of Seauís death instantly raised comparisons to the former Chicago Bears star Dave Duerson. In February 2011, Duerson shot himself in the chest, saying in a note that he wanted his brain donated to the study of football head injuries.

Probably all that trauma to the head over the years and couldn't fight the pain and suffering that went with it.

The NFL needs to play this game without helmets. This way, players will think twice about leading with their head.

Rugby players get far less in the way of concussions than NFL players and I'd be willing to bet that the guys back in the leather cap days did too. This CTE thing is going to ruin the NFL in a short period of time if they don't reign in all the head injuries.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

At some point the league needs to decide to demand that players tackle the way we were all taught back in high school, keep your head up and wrap them up. Simple.

There was no leaving your feet, launching yourself at the person, driving your shoulder into the person which would necessitate the head going down.

This argument needs to stop, seriously. Guys are so damn fast that RARELY can a defender break down and form tackle. Yes guys need to lead with their head as little as possible, but it is completely unrealistic to "demand" form tackling.

Though i dont want to see guys suffering because of brain trauma all these new rules are taking away from the game. It will soon be almost unrecognizeable from it's glory days. I would suggest somehow limiting or discouraging how big these guys get. It really is the main reason, combined with off the chart speed, that injuries seem to be on the rise.

This argument needs to stop, seriously. Guys are so damn fast that RARELY can a defender break down and form tackle. Yes guys need to lead with their head as little as possible, but it is completely unrealistic to "demand" form tackling.

Though i don't want to see guys suffering because of brain trauma all these new rules are taking away from the game. It will soon be almost unrecognizeable from it's glory days. I would suggest somehow limiting or discouraging how big these guys get. It really is the main reason, combined with off the chart speed, that injuries seem to be on the rise.

Sorry, I just disagree because defenders are fast as well. The game speed is elevated for all players on the field. So while an RB might be quicker/faster, so are lineman and db's more athletic and quicker/faster.

I do not think that form tackling will resolve the completely, but I think it can mitigate some of the occurrences of concussions and lingering/post career side effects. As some have said, if you take away the helmets, you won't see the same tackling with the head and shoulders as you do now. So why not keep the helmet for safety purposes and try to create an evniroment where tackling would occur as if helmets or leather helmets were in use. That's my only point, but I appreciate yours.

A weight limit is interesting, but then might open up a discriminatory can of worms on that front(he's too big to play)??? and guys might be even more enticed to use PEDs because you can maximize your strength to weight ratio with PED's

Sorry, I just disagree because defenders are fast as well. The game speed is elevated for all players on the field. So while an RB might be quicker/faster, so are lineman and db's more athletic and quicker/faster.

I do not think that form tackling will resolve the completely, but I think it can mitigate some of the occurrences of concussions and lingering/post career side effects. As some have said, if you take away the helmets, you won't see the same tackling with the head and shoulders as you do now. So why not keep the helmet for safety purposes and try to create an evniroment where tackling would occur as if helmets or leather helmets were in use. That's my only point, but I appreciate yours.

A weight limit is interesting, but then might open up a discriminatory can of worms on that front(he's too big to play)??? and guys might be even more enticed to use PEDs because you can maximize your strength to weight ratio with PED's

The nfl can limit weight if they choose, its their league. As for the defenders also have gotten faster, yes i realize that. What i meant was, if you have lesean mccoy running full speed at you in the open field and you decide to "break down" to form tackle, he will run right by you. Yes the defensive players are as fast but the point is the offensive guys as SO fast that you need to get them down by any means necessary. Sometimes that means launching yourself.

Can't believe how many of you are automatically blaming the game of football for him offing himself. Mushmouf Emmit Smith said the same thing. Nobody knows for sure what his reasoning was. Some times peeps just struggle with life and take the selfish way out. Only a note or some sort of brain analysis will tell us.

Can't believe how many of you are automatically blaming the game of football for him offing himself. Mushmouf Emmit Smith said the same thing. Nobody knows for sure what his reasoning was. Some times peeps just struggle with life and take the selfish way out. Only a note or some sort of brain analysis will tell us.

you have to admit that the similiarities to Duerson are striking, and the motivation for Duerson shooting himself in the chest was so he his brain could be studied. I'm sorry, but you just don't shoot yourself in the chest, it's not instant and has to be TREMENDOUSLY painful. I sincerely hope that Junior did this for the same reason, as that's the only way I can even offer an ounce of sympathy to someone who does something so selfish. 43 with kids, siblings and parent still around. Damned selfish.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Can't believe how many of you are automatically blaming the game of football for him offing himself. Mushmouf Emmit Smith said the same thing. Nobody knows for sure what his reasoning was. Some times peeps just struggle with life and take the selfish way out. Only a note or some sort of brain analysis will tell us.

I think alot of it has to do with these guys being unstable to start with but the game keeps them so redigmented and in a structured enviroment that they can survive.. when that structure is gone and the guys in the locker room are no longer there these guys dont know what to do?

If a 'Grade 1' concussion means you see stars after a hit, Plummer says he's had 1,000 in his career, and his ex-teammate, Junior Seau, had 1,500.

That's one thousand, five hundred concussions.

----------

"In the 1990s, I did a concussion seminar. They said a Grade 3 concussion meant you were knocked out, and a Grade 1 meant you were seeing stars after a hit, which made me burst out in laughter," Plummer told the San Jose Mercury News.. "As a middle linebacker in the NFL, if you don't have five of these (Grade 1 effects) each game, you were inactive the next game."Junior played for 20 years. That's five concussions a game, easily. How many in his career then? That's over 1,500 concussions. I know that's startling, but I know it's true. I had over 1,000 in my 15 years. I felt the effects of it. I felt depression going on throughout my divorce. Junior went through it with his divorce."

Can anyone with some medical background comment on this? Is this really one way Grade 1 concussions are diagnosed? Are Grade 1's serious enough to do damage to a players brain and/or cause depression?

Come on down to the hotel, baby. I can be what you want me to be. You can choke on your own medication, and i can watch myself on tv. Shut your mouth you big f*cking baby. I cant be what you want me to be. Go on choke on your own medication. I can tell you a lie you'll believe, yeah yeah.

If a 'Grade 1' concussion means you see stars after a hit, Plummer says he's had 1,000 in his career, and his ex-teammate, Junior Seau, had 1,500.

That's one thousand, five hundred concussions.

----------

"In the 1990s, I did a concussion seminar. They said a Grade 3 concussion meant you were knocked out, and a Grade 1 meant you were seeing stars after a hit, which made me burst out in laughter," Plummer told the San Jose Mercury News.. "As a middle linebacker in the NFL, if you don't have five of these (Grade 1 effects) each game, you were inactive the next game."Junior played for 20 years. That's five concussions a game, easily. How many in his career then? That's over 1,500 concussions. I know that's startling, but I know it's true. I had over 1,000 in my 15 years. I felt the effects of it. I felt depression going on throughout my divorce. Junior went through it with his divorce."

Can anyone with some medical background comment on this? Is this really one way Grade 1 concussions are diagnosed? Are Grade 1's serious enough to do damage to a players brain and/or cause depression?

Let's forget about the concussion comments. Of course people experience depression with divorce... You're breaking up with someone, hopefully, you envisioned spending the rest of your life with for various, and usually extremely stressful reasons. Just thought that was kind of funny. Plummer seems pretty knowledgeable about playing ILB and how many concussions one would get every game.

The more I read about him offing himself, the less I feel for him. Apparently, he didn't even have the common courtesy to leave a note...a goodbye, reasons why, anything. And apparently, he DID have the common courtesy to let his girl friend discover his bloody corpse laying in their bed. So on top of the selfish act of killing himself, he allows his gf to experience the visual trauma that she'll have to deal with forever, along with leaving all of his friends and family members forever contemplating the reasons why. Nice work Junior.

I can't remember where I read it but I read an article about the girlfriend that lead to him "falling asleep" and driving off a 100ft cliff a few years ago. She was a real piece of work, just a blatant money grubbing, fame ######, and extremely high maintenance. Wish I could find the article, cause it was a freaking fascinating read.

I even thought to myself at the time no matter how hot she is she could not be worth the grief she was giving him at the time. I remember doing a half hearted internet stalk/search since she was described as a Yoga instructor/dancer/aspiring actress. I don't know why but that combo caught my imagination,and I figured we would see her in porn soon enough.

sorry can't side with Junior here - to commit suicide at 43 with kids - okay your head was beat up - so are thousands of other NFL players that played with a lot less padding than you did - any number of reasons he could of done it. I say this becasue in 2009 I lost everything - my mother and brothers life , my marriage , and my career I spent 12 year building up. Hell I tried to commit suicide - taking 200 mg of Cloneazapam ( a little stronger than valium a little less than Xanax ) and washing it down with a bottle of Johnnie Walker - woke up 36 hours later - not sure how I survived it but it turned my life around since realizing my action was a selfish action and I have little kids to father.

how many suicides are there a day ? how many NFL players commit suicide by comparison -- sorry just feel bad for Junior and his family but it was a selfish act.

sorry can't side with Junior here - to commit suicide at 43 with kids - okay your head was beat up - so are thousands of other NFL players that played with a lot less padding than you did - any number of reasons he could of done it. I say this becasue in 2009 I lost everything - my mother and brothers life , my marriage , and my career I spent 12 year building up. Hell I tried to commit suicide - taking 200 mg of Cloneazapam ( a little stronger than valium a little less than Xanax ) and washing it down with a bottle of Johnnie Walker - woke up 36 hours later - not sure how I survived it but it turned my life around since realizing my action was a selfish action and I have little kids to father.

how many suicides are there a day ? how many NFL players commit suicide by comparison -- sorry just feel bad for Junior and his family but it was a selfish act.